LETTER TO THE SCHOOL PATRONS / From the desk of Dr. Cathy Walker
Hello Racer Families,
Afew weeks ago, I sent out an email highlighting the progress we have made with the bond construction projects across the district. I am excited to share that the concrete has been poured and steel is going up at the high school. The area where the steel is will be our new front office entrances. I will continue to post pictures on our Facebook page and website as the new building starts to take shape.
I also want to highlight some of the great things happening at our high school. Mr. Hull shared the following: The high school started a program in conjunction with The Daily Oklahoman to highlight student academic successes, in which the public votes each week. Eleven students in total have been celebrated thus far, with Katelyn Cates being named the overall winner of Student of the Week. Please look for opportunities to vote for our outstanding high school students on the Newcastle High School Facebook page.
Aviation is halfway through its second year, with three classes of Aviation 1 and two classes of Aviation 2, totalling 99 students. Since the inception of the program, four students started flight training outside of school. One graduated from Metro-Tech Aviation with a certification in Airframe Maintenance. Two have entered the Air Force, and another is working as a civilian at Tinker Air Force Base.
We also had a former student from the Class of 2020, who is a Certified Flight Instructor at OU, come back and help instruct aviation students at NHS.
Additionally, our internship program initiated a partnership with the City of Newcastle to include interns at the fire department, EMS, emergency management, and Newcastle Public Schools — totalling 38 juniors and seniors working with the city and the schools. Newcastle High School currently has 110 total student interns in the program.
The internship program also started the Racer Buddies program, which pairs elementary students with high school juniors and seniors for mentorship. Its goal is to provide younger students with positive role models. Currently, 34 elementary students are paired with older students in this program. One junior expressed enthusiasm, wishing the program had started earlier, as they’ve enjoyed getting to know their buddy.
We also started a book club this year. We had 10 students in the book club in the fall and look forward to growing this program in the future.
The theatre program is in its second year and is growing fast. Last spring they kicked off with the first musical production of You’re a Good Man Charlie Brown. This fall, the production featured a one-act play entitled The Tree, in which recently graduated teens experienced something supernatural when they got lost on a routine hike in the woods. The spring production will showcase a murder mystery that everyone can remember from their childhood entitled Clue. Dates for the spring performances are March 14 at 7 p.m. and March 15 at 3 p.m. We hope to see a packed house on opening night.
Our band had a great marching season. They earned straight ones on their performances and earned a position in the finals twice this year.
Braxton Cyrus, Cooper Lamb, and Katelynn Lewis were selected to the OSSBDA All-State Band. Ella Whitmore was selected as the first alternate for her instrument.
Our vocal music students have had a great year with Hunter Dugger, Aubrey Cain, and Madison Claypool making the ECOCDA Honor Choir. Aubrey and Madison also made the All-State Choir this year as well.
Great things are happening at our high school! It is a great day to be a RACER!
Dr. Cathy Walker
Superintendent, Newcastle Public Schools
